Kansas lawmakers recently passed legislation making it illegal to terminate an unwanted boyfriend if the relationship had passed the 18-month mark, making it even harder to end unwanted relationships in the state.
“There is no such thing as an unwanted relationship,” said Kansas lobbyist Brett Trygven, who pointed out that beyond the 18-month mark, a boyfriend’s relationship to his girlfriend remains viable with or without the participation of the girlfriend. “For a girlfriend to terminate a boyfriend at such a late stage should be outlawed with zero restrictions, even if they find the are related, or unwittingly trapped in a relationship when she thought she was just going to prom.”
Historically, breaking up with a man has been a safe and acceptable option for women when they felt the relationship wasn’t working out for them, or that it had become uncomfortable for some reason. This bill would change all of that for Kansas women. “This legislation is clearly punitive and has no purpose other than to give men more control over a woman’s right to choose a boyfriend,” said Clarissa Reynolds, President of the Women’s Empowerment Coalition.
The legislation stipulates, however, that women would still be able to terminate boyfriends past the 18-month mark if the boyfriend deemed it to be necessary for medical reasons, or if it’s about a sex thing.
“To call it a breakup minimizes my experience,” said Robert Meyers, still visibly upset 14 months after his relationship was terminated. “In fact, what she did was to reach into my chest, pull out my still-beating heart with her pointed claws, lift it above her head then crush it right in front of my face, allowing the blood to drip out into her mouth. Then she threw her head back and laughed.” Here Mr. Meyers paused to collect himself. “At least that’s what it felt like.”
Governor Brownback, who supports the legislation, was quick to point out that Kansas women do still have choice in their romantic relationships. “They can choose to stay in the relationship that they’ve already chosen by being in a relationship or they can end it before the 18-month mark,” said Brownback. “This gives women the freedom they apparently crave so much, while protecting vulnerable men from being dumped before they have the courage to do it themselves.”
“I don’t see this as a punitive act that criminalizes mean and thoughtless women,” says Trygven. “I see this as common-sense legislation, and also a really exciting time to be a man.”
